Posts
Fun 2.5
17 years ago
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Back to School Web 2.0
Searching in Quintura for kids by Angelina Jolie I was truly amazed to have only 1 search result: the Official Kung Fu Panda website. So it really works! Safe searches for kids! I also found a list of the Top 20 Websites for kids according to the Parent magazine. The list has some other search engines designed for kids like Yahooligans. Click here to see the list.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Finally...Collaboration Software
I personally love Google Docs, for some reason I'm having troubles logging into Zoho so I haven't tried it yet. If patrons at the Library used Google Docs more often they wouldn't have any problems with flash drives or saving attachments. Since everything is online and auto saved every minute they would never loose anything. I used it a lot with other TCSS when we were working on class schedules for the branch. I would send him the classes I wanted and he would edit the document with the classes he wanted and the changes were seen by both. From there the 'Word' Document was created for the submission form. It worked perfectly since our schedules were opposite. And we didn't have to be printing anything wasting paper.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Search vs Navigation
Well, usually I search everything on Google. If I compare it to some other engines I can see some differences and I always see a variation on the search results. I like how Lexxe creates a cluster of related search terms to the left hand side of the screen. I like how Hakia shows image results along with the search results. I like how Quintura has an interactive cluster of related terms related to your search and if you hover over them the list of results simultaneously changes. And I like about Bing that it keeps a history of your searches in the current session which you can see on the left had side of the screen, that way you can keep track of what you searched already.
Those are not the only search engines I know about, there is also ask.com, about.com and metacrawler.com. Ask.com will show you the search results along with questions that people have asked similar to your search results. About.com has a list of topics and categories aside from the search bar. and Metacrawler.com searches several search engines (google, yahoo, msn & ask) so searching here is like searching in all of them at once. Also it will show you a list of the most popular searches at the moment that way if that is what you are looking for, you can just click on it instead of having to type in the search bar. I guess it all depends on you, since we have different preferences, different search engines exist. Hopefully one of so many will fit your demands.
Those are not the only search engines I know about, there is also ask.com, about.com and metacrawler.com. Ask.com will show you the search results along with questions that people have asked similar to your search results. About.com has a list of topics and categories aside from the search bar. and Metacrawler.com searches several search engines (google, yahoo, msn & ask) so searching here is like searching in all of them at once. Also it will show you a list of the most popular searches at the moment that way if that is what you are looking for, you can just click on it instead of having to type in the search bar. I guess it all depends on you, since we have different preferences, different search engines exist. Hopefully one of so many will fit your demands.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Mobile Web 2.0
Well, mobile web it's really useful if you are always on the go. Anyway it's only useful when you have fancy devices like the Ipod touch and similar, if not everything looks super tiny and you can hardly see the webpage in question. So even though it is nice I can survive without it (still). Plus in my case, anyway, is not so necesary to spend a couple of hundred bucks in one of these devices I have some other more important things to pay for.
Other than that Internet from a Wifi hotspot is just as useful.
Other than that Internet from a Wifi hotspot is just as useful.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Social Networking 2.5
Definitely Facebook and Twitter are getting to the public and they are a great way of communicating with people. It's insane you can't find someone by email or phone but you can definitely find them on Facebook. Even a movie will come out about the story of Facebook. Click here to read about it. (it already has more than 700 'tweets' by the way).
The Library could really use it to promote the events, services and programs offered.
When this module came out on Learn 2.x a co-worker tested out promoting the Mango Languages database to her friends on Facebook, and in a matter of minutes people where asking her more about it and how they could use it. Even though some of us might not like some of these technologies there are thousands (maybe millions) of people that do, and if we want to reach out to them we have to do it through the means they constantly use.
The Library could really use it to promote the events, services and programs offered.
When this module came out on Learn 2.x a co-worker tested out promoting the Mango Languages database to her friends on Facebook, and in a matter of minutes people where asking her more about it and how they could use it. Even though some of us might not like some of these technologies there are thousands (maybe millions) of people that do, and if we want to reach out to them we have to do it through the means they constantly use.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Second Life and Virtual 3d Reality (and the Library)
Well, I'm impressed on how popular is this second life concept. A few months ago I was watching an episode of CSI New York in which the case they were investigating was entirely based on Second Life... But I always though it was a game! And now I know I was wrong.
I didn't know so many companies were even present in Second Life to promote their services and provide some sort of customer service.
I think that what our library is doing so far is ok since a presence on Second Life has been established and we are contributing to this virtual learning world with projects like the Central Florida Memory Project. But we could do more in the future like offering our classes on Second Life, present the Meet the Author Programs but virtually and maybe we can arrange with authors that already have a resident avatar on Second Life to be on them first. It would be nice to offer a section in which they can pay their fines or buy books from our book store. Of course all of this has to be located on an Island for this Library and obviously the virtual building, that's why I say, 'in the future'. We should even have a presence on the Teen Second Life to promote more of our library services we have for teens, maybe we can even get 'virtual' Teen Volunteers to be present there as well and they can share their experiences at the library.
Definitely the Second Life concept is something that cannot be taken for granted because it hasn't stop growing and everyday even more widely know companies are there as well providing services to their customers. I think that since the library is an institution that provides information and is committed to: 'connect our changing community to the evolving world of ideas, information and technology. Through continuous innovation, the Orange County Library System will create a well informed, well connected community, making Orange County a great place to live, learn, work, and play.'-(as stated in our mission statement) we should continue looking into more ways of being present in Second Life. It's something different than what we are used to see, our community has changed by this evolving way to interact through technology, it's a place in which we can create anything without having necessarily to be limited by budgets or resources. And it can be used to keep us connected to a virtual world in which we can virtually live, learn work and play with this growing community!
Check out how libraries can be seen and toured in Second Life!
Check out Second Life Reference
I didn't know so many companies were even present in Second Life to promote their services and provide some sort of customer service.
I think that what our library is doing so far is ok since a presence on Second Life has been established and we are contributing to this virtual learning world with projects like the Central Florida Memory Project. But we could do more in the future like offering our classes on Second Life, present the Meet the Author Programs but virtually and maybe we can arrange with authors that already have a resident avatar on Second Life to be on them first. It would be nice to offer a section in which they can pay their fines or buy books from our book store. Of course all of this has to be located on an Island for this Library and obviously the virtual building, that's why I say, 'in the future'. We should even have a presence on the Teen Second Life to promote more of our library services we have for teens, maybe we can even get 'virtual' Teen Volunteers to be present there as well and they can share their experiences at the library.
Definitely the Second Life concept is something that cannot be taken for granted because it hasn't stop growing and everyday even more widely know companies are there as well providing services to their customers. I think that since the library is an institution that provides information and is committed to: 'connect our changing community to the evolving world of ideas, information and technology. Through continuous innovation, the Orange County Library System will create a well informed, well connected community, making Orange County a great place to live, learn, work, and play.'-(as stated in our mission statement) we should continue looking into more ways of being present in Second Life. It's something different than what we are used to see, our community has changed by this evolving way to interact through technology, it's a place in which we can create anything without having necessarily to be limited by budgets or resources. And it can be used to keep us connected to a virtual world in which we can virtually live, learn work and play with this growing community!
Check out how libraries can be seen and toured in Second Life!
Check out Second Life Reference
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Dark Side of the Web -Internet Malware
Well thankfully, as for now, I have not been a victim of malware. But I have received messages in my email that look suspicious. Usually the email server will warn you about it or block it from you. For example, at Hotmail you might see a red exclamation point (!) next to the subject line. Yahoo usually filters them as "spam" mail.
Frecuently some login sections on websites will let you choose a key image or seal to help you make sure this website is legitimate before you enter your login information.
Be safe!
Frecuently some login sections on websites will let you choose a key image or seal to help you make sure this website is legitimate before you enter your login information.
Be safe!
Life Long Learning 2.0
Well from the list of links I was checking that could help in my life long learning 2 of them really stand out:
More Birds Videos at 5min.com
Wikiversity it's great for continuing education when you don't want to go to any college or pay for courses. You can learn at your own pace and the topics even have an outline of the lessons and everything. It will help me to keep learning in my field since I already graduated.
Here you will find videos about how to do mostly everything. On the Health section you can get videos of doctors telling you the information you need. You can learn hot to fix appliances, play billiards or chess better, cook something delicious or even how to clip the wings of your pet bird!
More Birds Videos at 5min.com
Monday, December 29, 2008
OCLS and Library 2.0
Well, talking a little bit about the Orange Seed here at OCLS, I have to say it's very important not only for me, but for the Library itself. As part of the Strategic Goal I, OCLS wants to have a good reputation among libraries and also wants to be established as an Employer of choice. Who wouldn't want to work in a place, that among other things, will allow you to propose or suggest ideas by posting them in a web page accessible to everyone that works there so you can get help developing it?
Plus having the Orange Seed, contributes to the Achievement of Strategic Goal II because it is beyond the traditional library experience, allows ideas to become an integral part of innovation and demonstrates that values the free flow of the employees ideas.
It is important for me because it allows me to see ideas posted by others and interact with them and I can even post my own so my opinions and ideas can be known.
Now talking about Orlando Memory... According to Strategic Goal I, OCLS wants to use psychographics (which is the study of personality, values, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles) to develop and market services. Orlando Memory will precisely show what are the values, lifestyles and interests of the community we offer our services to here in the Orlando Area because they will not only post comments, they will post any kind of media item that is significant to them, so we can see, hear or read about what they enjoy or think. I see it as something that definitely goes beyond the traditional library experience since it's completely digital, it allows electronic communication and connects the community with us.
The strategic plan makes me see in the horizon a lot of changes specially regarding embracing new technologies. The new OCLS widget that was developed it's a great example of that. With this widget we can be part of patron's webpages, and it will be easier for them to keep in touch with us. (You can see the widget on the left hand side of my screen below my Blog List)
Also the (now being tested)new OCLS catalog which you can see here will be a great way of "connecting the community to our services and products", it is also another way of electronic communication and it will give OCLS psychographics since it will allow patons to comment, tag and rate items. Test it, search by the keyword "Dogs" and check those new features and comments posted.
This strategic plan also reminds me of how important, patron's thoughts are and how important their feedback is. Because without them we wouldn't be here. If they are not able to share their thoughts and ideas we wouldn't be able to give them the services they would prefer and they could stop coming.
It also tells me how different some libraries, the ones that embrace the 2.0 concept, will be 5 or 10 years from now.
I saw a picture about this in another blog:
Where will the 2.0 take the library?
Picture was posted on the Boroondara City Library Blog
Plus having the Orange Seed, contributes to the Achievement of Strategic Goal II because it is beyond the traditional library experience, allows ideas to become an integral part of innovation and demonstrates that values the free flow of the employees ideas.
It is important for me because it allows me to see ideas posted by others and interact with them and I can even post my own so my opinions and ideas can be known.
Now talking about Orlando Memory... According to Strategic Goal I, OCLS wants to use psychographics (which is the study of personality, values, attitudes, interests, and lifestyles) to develop and market services. Orlando Memory will precisely show what are the values, lifestyles and interests of the community we offer our services to here in the Orlando Area because they will not only post comments, they will post any kind of media item that is significant to them, so we can see, hear or read about what they enjoy or think. I see it as something that definitely goes beyond the traditional library experience since it's completely digital, it allows electronic communication and connects the community with us.
The strategic plan makes me see in the horizon a lot of changes specially regarding embracing new technologies. The new OCLS widget that was developed it's a great example of that. With this widget we can be part of patron's webpages, and it will be easier for them to keep in touch with us. (You can see the widget on the left hand side of my screen below my Blog List)
Also the (now being tested)new OCLS catalog which you can see here will be a great way of "connecting the community to our services and products", it is also another way of electronic communication and it will give OCLS psychographics since it will allow patons to comment, tag and rate items. Test it, search by the keyword "Dogs" and check those new features and comments posted.
This strategic plan also reminds me of how important, patron's thoughts are and how important their feedback is. Because without them we wouldn't be here. If they are not able to share their thoughts and ideas we wouldn't be able to give them the services they would prefer and they could stop coming.
It also tells me how different some libraries, the ones that embrace the 2.0 concept, will be 5 or 10 years from now.
I saw a picture about this in another blog:
Where will the 2.0 take the library?
Picture was posted on the Boroondara City Library Blog
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Web 2.0 Continues
Wow!
Browsing through the Seomoz awards page (http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0#cat_117) was awesome. I saw so many cool websites. A fun one was www.hairmixer.com in which you can upload your picture and change your hairstyle, you can even see your face reduced 50 pounds!
But some of them that we can really use at the library are:
Vufind in which the Library's catalog can be customized with open source software. (I know in a meeting I went to they spoke about changing the catalog to something similar, but I don't know if it was using this same software.) Anyway you can quickly sort the search results using the categories on the right of the screen. You can bookmark your searches, add tags to the items and even leave comments. If you click on the "review" tab for a book, it will display the review from Amazon.com and you don't even have to leave the page. When the search results are displayed and you choose one of them, it's going to show you similar items. This will definitely help patrons personalize and keep a record of their search, it will definetly make it easier for them to find what they want and it will let them say their opinion about items, making their opinion count.
See it yourself:
VuFind: Social Features from Falvey Memorial Library on Vimeo.
Another one is www.docstoc.com which compiles a wealth of legal, educational, technical and business documents for you to download for free. You can upload your own files in a number of formats. So this can help patrons when they need help typing documents like an eviction letter, they can get the document from here free!
Browsing through the Seomoz awards page (http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0#cat_117) was awesome. I saw so many cool websites. A fun one was www.hairmixer.com in which you can upload your picture and change your hairstyle, you can even see your face reduced 50 pounds!
But some of them that we can really use at the library are:
Vufind in which the Library's catalog can be customized with open source software. (I know in a meeting I went to they spoke about changing the catalog to something similar, but I don't know if it was using this same software.) Anyway you can quickly sort the search results using the categories on the right of the screen. You can bookmark your searches, add tags to the items and even leave comments. If you click on the "review" tab for a book, it will display the review from Amazon.com and you don't even have to leave the page. When the search results are displayed and you choose one of them, it's going to show you similar items. This will definitely help patrons personalize and keep a record of their search, it will definetly make it easier for them to find what they want and it will let them say their opinion about items, making their opinion count.
See it yourself:
VuFind: Social Features from Falvey Memorial Library on Vimeo.
Another one is www.docstoc.com which compiles a wealth of legal, educational, technical and business documents for you to download for free. You can upload your own files in a number of formats. So this can help patrons when they need help typing documents like an eviction letter, they can get the document from here free!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Video Games you may not want for kids
According to today's Orlando Sentinel page A11 these games are intended for ages 17 and older not under:
Blitz: The league 2
Gears of war
Saints Row 2
Dead Space
Fallout 3
Far Cry 2
Legendary
Left 4 dead
Resistance 2
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Positive games recommended for Teens:
Guitar Hero World Tour
Rockband 2
Rock Revolution
Spider Man: Web of Shadows
Shaun White Snowboarding
Picture courtesy of www.thegamerzzone.com
Blitz: The league 2
Gears of war
Saints Row 2
Dead Space
Fallout 3
Far Cry 2
Legendary
Left 4 dead
Resistance 2
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Positive games recommended for Teens:
Guitar Hero World Tour
Rockband 2
Rock Revolution
Spider Man: Web of Shadows
Shaun White Snowboarding
Picture courtesy of www.thegamerzzone.com
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Talk about Change
We were talking here few weeks ago about how the Internet and new technologies can change everything we do. Here is what the newly elected president is planning to do. Talk about change...
Saturday, November 1, 2008
New gaming controller (talking about change...)
1UP News (1up.com)
Check out this new remote coming up. This article is from 1up.com.
Sony Patents Break-Apart Controller
In conjunction with the PlayStation Eye, Sony's reconfigurable controller aims to offer the best motion control yet.By Dustin Quillen, 10/30/2008
Legitimizing rumors from earlier this year, Sony has registered a patent for a new, break-apart controller with advanced motion-sensing technology. Originally uncovered by a poster on Neogaf, this new controller -- should it actually see the light of day -- would put the PS3 in more direct competition with Nintendo's Wii.
This new controller isn't just another revision of the Sixaxis; rather, it looks like a complete overhaul of the form and function of the device, resembling a pair of ice cream cones more than Sony's ubiquitous Dual Shock. The images accompanying the patent display two Wii-like remotes with removable button faceplates, topped off with strange, bulb-like shapes. These glowing, spherical structures house LEDs and ultrasonic sound emitters, which would allow the PlayStation Eye camera to determine the controllers' positions in three-dimensional space.
While the controller's two pieces are separate in many of the provided images, they can also be connected in numerous configurations. One side-by-side permutation is somewhat akin to a traditional Dual Shock, while another looks more like a tribute to Aboriginal weaponry than a gaming device. Anyone who hated on Sony's original PS3 controller design should probably shield their eyes, because this thing makes the infamous boomerang controller look pedestrian by comparison.
In conjunction with the PlayStation Eye, Sony's reconfigurable controller aims to offer the best motion control yet.By Dustin Quillen, 10/30/2008
Legitimizing rumors from earlier this year, Sony has registered a patent for a new, break-apart controller with advanced motion-sensing technology. Originally uncovered by a poster on Neogaf, this new controller -- should it actually see the light of day -- would put the PS3 in more direct competition with Nintendo's Wii.
This new controller isn't just another revision of the Sixaxis; rather, it looks like a complete overhaul of the form and function of the device, resembling a pair of ice cream cones more than Sony's ubiquitous Dual Shock. The images accompanying the patent display two Wii-like remotes with removable button faceplates, topped off with strange, bulb-like shapes. These glowing, spherical structures house LEDs and ultrasonic sound emitters, which would allow the PlayStation Eye camera to determine the controllers' positions in three-dimensional space.
While the controller's two pieces are separate in many of the provided images, they can also be connected in numerous configurations. One side-by-side permutation is somewhat akin to a traditional Dual Shock, while another looks more like a tribute to Aboriginal weaponry than a gaming device. Anyone who hated on Sony's original PS3 controller design should probably shield their eyes, because this thing makes the infamous boomerang controller look pedestrian by comparison.
Gaming companies come up with unusual patents like this and fail to act on them all the time, but our instincts tells us this one's serious. With the Wii continuing to dominate the console scene and Microsoft gradually repositioning themselves toward more casual gamers, this new input device could be the foothold Sony needs to define themselves this generation. Hopefully they can figure out some sort of reasonably-priced bundle for this thing, because we're having a hard time imagining your average Wii consumer dropping the massive amounts of cash required for a PS3, PlayStation Eye, and a new controller.
Chain, Chain, Change........
I love the fact that the mission statement shows that this Library adapts to the changing community and the evolving technology and ideas. Like a patron said today: "This Library is a whole different world". She has never seen what we offer, in the other libraries from where she lived before: No computer classes, no downloadable media, no 100 limit on items for checkout.
I enjoy the Gaming nights a lot, which also adapt to the evolving technology, first we had a Gaming Pod with an Xbox and Dance Dance Revolution, then we got a Nintendo Wii console with cool games and now we have Rockband and more up to date games! So yes, the Library is a good place to play and learn at the same time.
I also think that we connect our community by our Family Movie Nights, people gather and new friendships are made, and family bonds grow stronger.
The DaVinci article about libraries is very interesting, we are already offering some of the services suggested. For example the say to Preserve the Memories of our community, well we have the Orlando memory Database.
It's true that we offer computer classes as a resource for people that want to learn new technologies but it would be good if we offered a series of guest lectures on different technologies.
And we should definetly have creative spaces, as for now we offer programs fro Teen and Children creativity trough crafts, songs, gaming workshops and gaming related to musical instruments, but we should do it for everybody with these creative spaces the article talks about.
So in general, I think we are on the right track. We just have to keep it up.
I enjoy the Gaming nights a lot, which also adapt to the evolving technology, first we had a Gaming Pod with an Xbox and Dance Dance Revolution, then we got a Nintendo Wii console with cool games and now we have Rockband and more up to date games! So yes, the Library is a good place to play and learn at the same time.
I also think that we connect our community by our Family Movie Nights, people gather and new friendships are made, and family bonds grow stronger.
The DaVinci article about libraries is very interesting, we are already offering some of the services suggested. For example the say to Preserve the Memories of our community, well we have the Orlando memory Database.
It's true that we offer computer classes as a resource for people that want to learn new technologies but it would be good if we offered a series of guest lectures on different technologies.
And we should definetly have creative spaces, as for now we offer programs fro Teen and Children creativity trough crafts, songs, gaming workshops and gaming related to musical instruments, but we should do it for everybody with these creative spaces the article talks about.
So in general, I think we are on the right track. We just have to keep it up.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Open Source week
Well, since I began in OCLS and specially after Learn 2.0 I learned a lot of new ways of finding information online. Just recently I took the Novelist Database training and I find it quite good. It's a fast and specific tool that can help you find any kind of fiction or series book, along with ideas even for book clubs. When patrons ask me anything I inmediatly "google" it. Everyday we are just becoming more and more dependable on technology to learn. It's the same thing that happened when everybody got access to e-mails. Now who writes paper letters?
In the future, I think the Library will continue to evolve and meet the technology standard as it has been doing. We even have playaways, and tons of online databases just to mention some. The Open Source software can help us develop software applications that are going to be useful for us individually here at OCLS and for our public needs. So we can customize everything we offer or use online or on the computer itself.
By the way, I "googled" myself and one of the first results was a class here at OCLS that I presented. And I didn't even use the keyword FL or Orlando. I just searched by my name.
It's just a little creepy, that you can be found so fast these days.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Technology + Wellness
Well, I definitely love the Wii, and since I hate doing exercise I think wii Fit could be very good for me and my health. gimme20.com it's an awesome tool to find workouts for you without the need of a special trainer, it will help me to design an exercise routine in which I'll feel comfortable. And the graphs that nutritiondata.com builds according to what you eat really helps in creating awareness of how healthy or how much certain food will fill your stomach. I need to improve my meals!!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
A nice Rss feed
Hey if you like tech info, check the Extremetech RSS feed at the bottom of this blog.
Monday, June 25, 2007
week #10
What will I do with my MP3 player?
Lots of things. I plan on downloading audio books about language learning so I can learn languages. And of course have my favorite music with me at all times. I will also use it to study, recording my own reviews in podcasts (now that I know how to), and listen to myself while I do something else! This learning course is very nice I've learned so many things...
Lots of things. I plan on downloading audio books about language learning so I can learn languages. And of course have my favorite music with me at all times. I will also use it to study, recording my own reviews in podcasts (now that I know how to), and listen to myself while I do something else! This learning course is very nice I've learned so many things...
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Week #9
About this copyright debate what can I say? I think the law is the law. It is usually to protect, so I think we all need our hard work to be protected and to be worth our effort. These people had to go through a lot to create these songs and music, most of them is their career. Every career has a salary so I think everybody that uses that persons career's should pay for it's use unless they authorize you can use it for free. Even though the way technology has evolved has allowed millions today to break these copyright laws and almost nobody really pays attention to who breaks the law. Even here at our libraries, I know for sure more than 90% of the patrons that check out CDs, are making copies of them; and nobody will do anything. So I'll let the lawmakers and the people who don't like their laws to decide what to do. Meanwhile I'll just stick to the current laws.
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